WITH space to seat a burly seven-a-side rugby team and the ability to take them to any destination no matter how demanding, the Land Rover Discovery 3 is so much more than a school-run-brigade vehicle.
It's true that any mum could easily transport her little angels to the school gates in style and safety and it's also true that it will be the envy of the soft-roader fans, but the Discovery 3 should never be dismissed as just a means of transport.
Admittedly, it's not a cheap toy to be thrown around at will, but never forget the Land Rover brand comes from working stock and just loves to get mean and dirty.
Inside, there is a versatile layout to maximise the space and the excellent all round view for seven adults is enhanced thanks to stadium-style seating.
Creature comforts are incredible and include air conditioning front and back, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, leather seats and even a rear seat entertainment system.
But for me, luxury aside, the Land Rover Discovery 3 is all about performance - whatever the terrain.
By simply turning a dial you can select the drive mode from grass, gravel or snow, sand and even crawling over rocks and the vehicle's intelligence system will do the rest for you by choosing the transmission, suspension and traction settings to suit the challenge.
And although it may make a few owners shudder with horror, the rear tailgate can support the weight of two adults and makes a fantastic viewing platform.
Out on the open road, the Discovery handles supremely well and with its excellent all-round visibility, driving in and around town or on long winding roads is a complete doddle too.
Of course, the safety specifications on the Discovery are second to none and include anti-lock brakes, electronic brake assist, dynamic stability control, electronic traction control, active roll mitigation and even a tyre pressure monitoring system. To be honest, the list just goes on and on and on.
So, it's safe, comfortable, handles beautifully and boasts stunning good looks guaranteed to turn heads, surely there must be a downside to this vehicle.
Well, on reflection, the running costs are not particularly cheap and the initial layout price will make quite a dent in your savings, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for and in my opinion, the Land Rover Discovery 3 is worth every penny.
FAST FACTS
Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE 5dr
Price: £44,405
Mechanical:188bhp, 2,720cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox
Max speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 11.7 seconds
Combined mpg: 27.7
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 270g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage